water

We have been looking for decades to reduce diesel pollution. The answer was in the water

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In slow progress, but with increasing momentum, new energy vehicles continue to gain ground in Europe. However, the vehicle fleet It is still plagued by diesel enginesespecially because beyond passenger cars, they continue to dominate freight transportation, agriculture and industry. Because? Well, because at the end of the day they are robust, efficient and very reliable. But they are also one of the main sources of air pollution. However, there are numerous projects and studies that seek to make diesel a much less polluting fuel. In this regard, a team of researchers from Nigeria has given it a twist to an already known technology that, well applied, can change that equation without having to redesign the engine. What is WiDE technology. Its acronym in English stands for Water-in-Diesel Emulsion, or water-diesel emulsion. The idea is to mix small amounts of water with the diesel using substances called surfactants, which act as stabilizers and keep the mixture homogeneous for up to 60 days. The result is a fuel that, on the outside, barely differs from conventional diesel but that behaves very differently inside the engine. How it works inside the cylinder. When this mixture burns in the combustion chamber, the water droplets vaporize instantly and violently. This phenomenon is called “microexplosion” and has a direct and positive effect: it atomizes the fuel into much finer particles, which improves the mixture with the air. More efficient combustion at lower peak temperatures directly translates into fewer nitrogen oxides (NOx) and less soot. Numbers. The study, carried out by researchers from the Federal University of Technology of Owerri (Nigeria) and published at Carbon Research, analyzed the results of this solution in studies around the world. After this, they detected that engines that operate with WiDE can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 67% and suspended particles by up to 68% compared to conventional diesel. In addition, several experiments also pointed to an improvement in the thermal efficiency of the engine. Because matters. Current emissions control systems, such as particulate filters or SCR catalysts, work, but add cost and mechanical complexity. WiDE, on the other hand, acts directly on combustion and does not require modifying the engine. According to the main researcher of the study, Dr Chukwuemeka Fortunatus Nnadozie, is “a practical and cost-effective way to clean diesel engines” that opens “an immediate path to lower emissions in both developing and developed countries.” The key: surfactants. It’s not all about mixing water and diesel. The stability of the emulsion depends largely on the type and amount of surfactant used. The investigation concludes that formulations that combine several surfactants offer the best results, both in fuel stability and combustion quality. On the other hand, if this component is chosen incorrectly it can compromise both the performance and security of the system. What remains to be resolved. The authors themselves acknowledge that the technology needs more research before mass adoption. Optimal surfactant formulations remain to be defined and the long-term effect on internal engine components needs to be evaluated. The study’s co-author, Professor Emeka Emmanuel Oguzie, point which, “with proper formulation and testing, could become an important part of sustainable transport and industrial systems.” An intermediate solution. WiDE is not proposed as a substitute for electrification or renewable energies, but as an intermediate solution. The authors describe it as a bridge between the current use of diesel and a cleaner energy model, and point out that it could combine with biodiesel and other emissions control systems to enhance their effects. In Xataka | With gasoline at 2 euros per liter in France, something is happening in Guipúzcoa: French people crossing the border with jerrycans

A family wanted to live with only solar panels, well water and a garden. Until Italy took away her children

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High in a forest in Abruzzo, Italy, a stone house fell completely silent in November last year. Until then, that place was the self-sufficient refuge of Nathan Trevallion, Catherine Birmingham and their three children. However, on November 20, 2025, a judge decided to remove them of family custody for living disconnected from the grid, without schooling and in an environment that he considered unhealthy. The resolution started a fire political and social in Italy. What for the family was a self-sufficient life project—solar panels, well water, compostable toilet, garden—became a court case with enormous international repercussions. The story, however, goes beyond an Italian court order. It is the symptom of something bigger: a growing movement in Europe—and also in Spain—of families and communities seeking to get out of the urban grind, disconnect from the electrical grid and live self-sufficiently. How far does the freedom to choose that lifestyle go? And where does the State’s intervention begin, especially when minors are involved? The case that divided Italy. The family, of Australian and British origin, had been living in a forest in Palmoli since 2021. The house was precarious but, according to themenough: electricity with solar panels, well water and an outdoor composting area as a toilet. In autumn 2024, all were hospitalized due to accidental mushroom poisoning. That episode was the one that activated the alarms of social services. As collected Corriere della Seraa technical report described the home as “ruin” and “without adequate conditions for minors.” That’s when social services intervened. The lack of schooling of the minors, the absence of pediatric follow-up and the almost total isolation in which the family lived set off all the alarms. Following these reports, a court in L’Aquila ordered in November of 2025 the withdrawal of parental authority and the transfer of the children to a center, where the mother could stay with them temporarily. The decision has caused a real political earthquakewhere political leaders and several judicial associations denounced pressure from the Government. At the same time, more than 150,000 people signed online petitions demanding that minors return to their parents. The family breakup and tensions in Vasto. The litigation is still in full swing. The development of the case during the first months of 2026 has been marked by institutional complexity, friction and the desperate search for reunification. The deepest wound of this process is, without a doubt, separation. According to Il Messaggerothe situation reached a critical point on March 6, when Catherine, the mother of the minors, was removed from the Vasto family home. In her only in-person visit after the expulsion, social services reports indicated that the woman showed “hostile” attitudes and incited other residents to rebel against the educators. This episode led to the drastic decision to cancel subsequent meetings, limiting maternal contact to video calls, in an attempt to preserve the children’s serenity. However, distance is taking its toll. A forceful technical report presented on April 3, 2026 before the L’Aquila Court, signed by the psychiatrist Tonino Cantelmi and the psychologist Martina Aiello, set off alarm bells. The experts They noticed that children show obvious “signs of psychological distress” and deep trauma resulting from the separation. The document is clear: there is no evidence of abuse or mistreatment by the mother. For this reason, specialists have asked the court for the “urgent and unavoidable” reconstitution of the family, warning that prolonging this fracture will only aggravate the damage to the mental health of the children. An institutional clash in the middle of the crossfire. The family drama has transcended the walls of the reception center to become a political and institutional powder keg. The management of the case provoked an open and public confrontation, collected by RaiNews. On the one hand, the Ombudsman for Children of Abruzzo, Marina Terragni, visited the minors in March and publicly reported having found some children with “notable psychomotor agitation” and obvious trauma due to the repeated changes. The response from social services was immediate. They flatly accused Terragni of exposing the professionals to a “public pillory” based on statements that, according to them, did not correspond to reality, ensuring that the climate in the family home had returned to being “serene.” Polarization and media pressure have escalated to worrying levels: The tension even manifested itself with screams inside the court itself, and the judge of the Juvenile Court, Cecilia Angrisano, had to receive a police escort after being the target of continuous threats on social networks. The countdown. While the courts decide, the family tries to put the pieces back together and comply with the State’s demands. Nathan, assuming a conciliatory role, has moved to regularize his situation. As detailed Il Messaggerothe father delivered to the City Council of Palmoli a personalized study plan, supported by the Libera Schola Foundation of Milan and inspired by the Waldorf-Steiner method. In addition, the family has begun to comply with the vaccination schedule and the children have been receiving in-person classes with a tutor since January, as pointed out by Corriere della Sera. The most tangible progress has come from the municipality itself. In a gesture of support, the Palmoli City Council has given the family, free of charge and for an initial period of two years, a newly renovated 70 square meter house. As detailed Il Giornale, The house, financed with European PNRR funds, has solar panels, heating and all health guarantees, thus solving the judge’s main claim. At the moment the house remains empty until the family is complete, as detailed by Nathan. Everyone’s eyes are now on the Court of Appeal, which has a key hearing set for April 21, 2026. Off-grid: from bucolic dream to global phenomenon. To understand the background of this trend, just open Instagram. As the magazine explains Ethicsit is enough for the algorithm to detect a certain interest in self-sufficiency to fill the feed of videos of families drying their own food, women showing their renovated campers or couples who live half a year off … Read more

We knew there was water on the Moon, but not why some craters were empty. Finally we have the answer

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It’s been a while since It is known that there is water on the Moon. However, accessing it is quite complicated. To begin with, so far only water in the form of ice has been detected. But also, it’s not clear what the best places to look are. There are some clues, but exceptions keep appearing that baffle scientists. That’s why, the study recently carried out by scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder It has been very illuminating. Frozen water hidden in the shadows. The missions that have detected ice on the Moon have located it in the depths of the craters of the lunar south pole. Mostly, in something known as cold traps. These are places that are permanently in shadow, so that the very high temperatures that are reached during the day, of more than 120ºCthey cannot evaporate the water. An essential resource for lunar colonization. The detection of water on the Moon was a great milestone at the time, since it would make it easier for lunar colonizers to use water to cover basic needs in the future. They could use it for drinking, but also, for example, it would be possible separate hydrogen from oxygen through hydrolysis and use it as fuel. Let us remember that the formula of water is H2O, two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. It’s not that easy. Some craters containing ice have already been detected, like the Cabeus. We could think that all the craters of the south pole that are found in cold traps, like this one, will serve as water sources. Unfortunately, the task is not so simple. It is known that several craters in this situation do not contain water, so another pattern must be sought to help future lunar colonizers know where to look. A question of orientation. The authors of the study just published relied on two types of data. On the one hand, the surface temperature data provided by the Diviner instrument of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). On the other hand, the results of a series of computer simulations on lunar evolution. Studying all of this together revealed something interesting. That the orientation of the Moon has not always been the same. Its relative inclination with respect to the Earth has changed slightly over billions of years, so that what is in shadow today may not have been in the past. That’s why there are craters in cold traps that don’t have water. The older the better. Something that these scientists have also observed when reviewing previous studies is that the oldest craters at the lunar south pole are more likely to house water. Therefore, the ideal is to look for ancient craters that are located at the south pole and in cold traps. The number of likely places to search is greatly reduced. In fact, there is already a candidate following this premise: the Haworth crater. According to the models, it has been in shadow for 3 billion years. We will have to check it. The authors of this study are already designing an instrument, called Lunar Compact Infrared Imaging System (L-CIRiS), to analyze this and other candidate craters for water ice. NASA plans to deploy it near the lunar South Pole at the end of 2027. It will be a good way to detect the best lunar water sources with an eye on future long-term missions on our satellite. The more the ground is prepared, the better. Image | Xataka | The “hidden” side of the Moon has been a mystery for decades: China already has a chemical map to shed light

has reclaimed 25% of land from the sea and converts wastewater into drinking water

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There is a country in the world that, when it runs out of space, manufactures more. And when it doesn’t have water, it recycles it infinitely. It’s not science fiction: it’s Singapore, a city-state that surpasses the six million inhabitants concentrated on an island that was barely 580 square kilometers and that today it occupies 736 square kilometers. A growth of almost 25% in just over half a century. It is not ambition, but necessity: it does not have enough land or its own rivers or aquifers, so it has had to cook everything for itself. Since its independence from the United Kingdom, it has not only increased its surface area: it has also built one of the most sophisticated water management systems on the planet, capable of converting wastewater into drinking water. of superior quality to standards of the World Health Organization. Singapore’s territorial resilience. Singapore has understood that its land and water (scarcity) problems are not independent, so it is solving them jointly and in a long-term plan (its sewage system is literally designed to last 100 years). It is the urban resilience applied to territorial development in its maximum expression, that is, the capacity of a territory to face climate, demographic and economic change through its infrastructure. A concept promoted by organizations such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction of which Singapore is today the most advanced student. A living laboratory in real time. If those southern geometric shapes don’t seem natural, it’s because they aren’t. Google Earth Context. The quick response to why is Singapore doing all this? It is because it lacks land and water, but reality is based on three essential axes that invite urgency: Geography. Singapore is a small island (more than New York) with a brutal population density, it does not have mountains that function as a natural reservoir or large rivers or aquifers. The rain is abundantbut collecting it in such a small field is a challenge. Strategic dependence. Historically, it has imported water from Malaysia through different agreements (the last one expires in 2061) but that represents a strategic vulnerability of the first order. Also they have imported sand from neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Climate change. Singapore is especially vulnerable to the threat of sea level rise as 30% of the territory is less than 5 meters above mean sea level. How to gain land. We enter first-class public works engineering. The traditional method consists of dredging sand from the seabed, transporting it to where it is required and filling the hole. The problem is that Singapore has run out of sand to dredge and no countries to sell it to it. As own governmentcountries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Malaysia have banned sand exports to Singapore over the years citing environmental reasons. The second method is the dutch poldera construction that consists of setting up a dam to gain land, so that the water is then pumped outside and the soil is kept dry permanently with a drainage and pumping system, so that the land created remains below sea level. Less sand is needed, but it requires sophisticated and permanent hydraulic engineering. In any case, gaining land is increasingly expensive, complex and more delicate from an environmental point of view. Polder operation diagram. Dutch Water Sector Megaprojects to gain land. It is enough to look at a satellite map of the south of the country to see geometric shapes that do not exist in nature and that are geographical proof of their projects. And more specifically, a glimpse of some of the most impressive: Pulau Tekong. The best example of a polder is this project started in 2008 and completed in September 2025 from the hand of the Dutch Deltaresinvolved the recovery of 810 hectares of land located 1.2 meters below sea level. Jurong Island It is today a petrochemical hub, an industrial estate that was born from the merger of seven islands: Pulau Merlimau, Pulau Ayer Chawan, Pulau Ayer Merbau, Pulau Seraya, Pulau Sakra, Pulau Pesek and Pulau Pesek Kecil. Long Island It is his most ambitious and futuristic project. It will join three strips of land in the east (from Marina East to Tanah Merah) to gain 20 kilometers of coastline and about 800 hectares. How to gain water. Singapore’s water strategy is an absolute global benchmark and is carried out by the National Water Agency. Its strategy is articulated around four sources of supply (its four national taps): water from the local basin, imported water, desalination and NE water (from NEWater). The idea is simple but effective: diversify supply sources as much as possible so that, no matter what happens, the city’s supply is not compromised. And that no drop of water leaves the cycle without being reused. The first two consist of the local capture of rainwater in its network of 17 reservoirs and the agreement with the State of Johor (Malaysia), which began in 1962 and expires in 2061. For desalination they use reverse osmosis through membranes and have five plants in operation. But he tap More interesting is the NEWater, capable of covering 40% of the total demand of the country. How do they do it? With a three-stage treatment consisting of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and disinfection. The resulting water is so pure that it is used for industrial and cooling purposes. Megaprojects to gain water. Although we have already outlined the main lines of Singapore’s water strategy, there are truly impressive specific projects: DTSS (the deep tunnel sewage system): is a huge underground network for wastewater management 206 km long that is centralized in three recovery plants in Changi, Kranji and Tuas. The recovered wastewater is what is then passed to NEWater. Marina Barrage. A project that serves to get an idea of ​​the Singapore mentality: it is a reservoir built in the center of the city thanks to a 350-meter dam. It combines three functions: producing drinking water, keeping possible floods at bay … Read more

The internet has become obsessed with drinking hot water in the morning. Science is clear about what it does (and what it doesn’t)

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We live in an age obsessed with ice. From the omnipresent iced coffee winter to complex viral drinks like sleepy girl mocktail that flood our social networks. However, in the midst of this liquid sophistication, the most revolutionary gesture for our gastrointestinal and mental health upon waking might be the simplest, most boring and cheapest of all: a glass of hot water. Faced with the inertia of an accelerated modern life full of stimuli, serving ourselves a glass of water at a pleasant temperature is presented as the first self-care gift that we can give to our body after emerging from the inertia of sleep. But what is the truth behind this practice? Is it an internet myth or a truth backed by science? The viralities of social networks. Just enter platforms like TikTok or Instagram to see thousands of influencers documenting how this morning habit deflates them, gives them energy and improves their digestion. As documented New York Timeshot water has become the new wellness superstar on-line. However, what the internet has dubbed a novel “longevity hack” is actually a fundamental pillar thousands of years old. This practice is deeply rooted in Indian Ayurveda (where the morning ritual is known as usha paana) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In these cultures, it is believed that the cold turns off the agni (the digestive fire) and weakens the vital energy or Qiforcing the body to expend extra energy to warm the stomach. Hot water, on the other hand, balances the Yin and the Yangkeeping the body calm. Plain water, tea or infusions? When experts talk about this habit, they literally mean just that: water. Pasu Harisadee, traditional Chinese medicine educator, points out that “simple water is the most neutral base and the most recommended for most.” Of course, additions are allowed. Squeeze a little lemon provides vitamin C; add fresh ginger strengthens defenses and combats nausea; and a touch of honey can soothe the throat. However, the medical portal Verywell Health makes an important distinction versus tea or coffee: although infusions provide fluids, the caffeine present in coffee or certain teas has a slightly diuretic effect. Pure hot water is the undisputed champion of direct hydration. The golden rule and the temperature paradox. This is where medicine draws a non-negotiable red line: be careful not to get burned. Although some portals such as Healthline suggest that hot drinks They can be consumed in a range of up to 71ºC, oncologists and gastroenterologists are much more strict. As a study published in Frontiers in Nutritionconsuming drinks over 60ºC (140ºF) on a regular basis is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, in addition to damaging oral tissues and burning taste buds. The ideal temperature should be lukewarm or comfortingly hot, never smoking to the point of burning. As Helen Ruckledge summarizes, nutritionist: “A tip: if you choose hot water, boil it and let it cool instead of drinking it directly from the tap.” The science behind. The core of this debate lies in separating magic from physiology. And in this area, experts have very clear positions: Intestinal hygiene and digestive “awakening”: This is the most supported benefit. Ana Luzón, Nutrition and Dietetics technician, explains in ABC which is about pure “mechanical efficiency”. Our body is at about 37ºC; Introducing ice water suddenly means a little thermal stress. Hot water acts as “intestinal hygiene”, dissolving food remains and mucus. For her part, Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, a gastroenterologist consulted by The New York Timesillustrates it perfectly: during the night, the digestive system is paralyzed. Hot water generates waves of contraction and relaxation in the muscles of the esophagus, stomach and intestines. “It’s basically telling everyone, ‘Okay, get up. We’ve got to get going,’” he says. This natural lubrication is key to combating morning constipation. Achalasia relief: To give it a deeper medical dimension, hot water is particularly useful for people who suffer from achalasia, a rare disorder that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass into the stomach. Heat helps relax the lower esophageal sphincter, making the swallowing process easier. Relaxation of the nervous system: Holding and drinking a hot cup activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest and digest” mode. This calms muscles, reduces tension, and relieves morning anxiety. Besides, a 1978 study already explained, the steam from hot water helps clear nasal congestion and relieves cold symptoms much better than room temperature liquids. Debunking myths: Neither ‘detox’ nor fat-burner. The big question that haunts the reels: Does hot water detoxify? No. Kristen Smith, nutritionistand Diane Lindsay-Adler, dieticiandetail that water does not magically eliminate toxins, the liver and kidneys are responsible for that. Hot water simply helps these organs do their job of filtering properly by keeping them hydrated. It is vital to compare this with dangerous internet methods. The obsession with do “detox” based on liquid diets or juices is a danger. A Northwestern University study showed that eliminating fiber living on juices for just three days is enough to ruin the intestinal microbiome. Hot water, on the other hand, is safe and assists the body without destroying the flora. Does it speed up metabolism and lose weight? Neither. There is no solid scientific evidence that it acts as a fat burner. There is a very brief metabolic cost while the body adjusts the temperature of the liquid, but it will not cause you to lose weight. The temporary weight loss that some notice on the scale is due, purely and simply, to the fact that the hot water has helped them go to the bathroom. The other side of the coin. A good analysis is not complete without its counterpoint. When is it not a good idea to drink hot water? If your goal is pure rehydration (for example, after intense exercise), a 2013 study showed that fresh water (at about 16ºC, similar to that of the tap) is the most effective. Additionally, there is a curious paradox with sweat: drinking hot … Read more

The good news is that the Ebro reservoirs are at a historic 85% water level. The bad thing is that we are going to spend it in a short time.

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There are 6,640 hm3 of water in the Ebro basin. The reservoirs are at 85.1% of its total capacity at what is its highest level (for this date) of the decade. And yet, the fact that there is a lot of water is not news. All of Spain is the same (83.3%). The news is that we are going to spend it. A structural problem called ‘Mediterranean’. Every year, the pressure of the Mediterranean summer and the irrigation campaign empty the reservoirs very quickly. AND, as history has shown usthere is never too much water: “each dry period has served to implement emergency measures for agriculture that were not eliminated when the rains returned, they were used to expand irrigation, aggravating the problem in the following drought”, said Ana Tudela and Antonio Delgado. And that, precisely that, is what we are about to see. The complete image. Seeing the figures for the reservoirs can lead us to forget that, just three years ago, 85% of the basin’s surface was in “prolonged drought“and 45% of them declared themselves in shortage emergency. Mequinenza, the largest swamp, reached historic lows. It was a catastrophe not only in water terms, but also in energy terms. Now, however, all that is in the past. And Say’s Law lurks in the dark. What the old French economist Jean-Baptiste Say argued at the end of the 19th century is that “every supply creates its own demand“and, translated into this situation, this means that the fact that there is more water generates all the incentives in the world for there to be more irrigation. As soon as we do it, this becomes clear. After all, not all of the basin’s storage capacity is enough for a full year of agricultural demand. Without the annual rainfall and the melting of snow, we could already consider all its reserves exhausted. March is the key month. The irrigation campaign runs from April to September and that means that March is the key month for planning the year. It is true that the thaw has not yet begun (which this year is going to be very intense), but it helps us estimate what quantities of water are really available. All irrigated agriculture in the valley depends on the water we are able to store during the spring. The question from now on becomes: how do we conserve as much water as possible before we once again enter a situation of risk? And the problem is that we don’t have answers. Especially in a regulatory context in which are not foreseen widespread restrictions on irrigation. Economic, social and institutional incentives tell us that we are not yet prepared, as a country, to address the really important question: we do not have a water problem, we have a consumption problem. There is still room for improvement in management, yes. But that won’t solve the problem: it only postpones it. And that 85% of reservoir water has given us unbeatable weather, we just have to hope that we can take advantage of it. Image | Manuel Torres Garcia In Xataka | The great battle of the Ebro is not between Murcia and Aragón, it is between the headwaters of the rivers, the large cities and the delta

why drinking water while eating doesn’t ruin your gastric juices

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In the era of TikTok and short videos that provide us with information very quickly, nutritional advice spreads like wildfire. One of the last is related to how bad it is to consume water while eating food, since this can “dilute” stomach acid and worsen digestion. The problem is that science is not at all clear that this really happens, and even very important societies of experts They have denied their relationship. How the stomach works. To understand why this is not the case, you first have to know how digestion works. A priori, those who defend that water worsens digestion argue that the liquid “washes” the gastric juices and causes a decrease in stomach acidity that prevents enzymes such as pepsin (which breaks down proteins) do their job, because they need reduced acidity. But the reality is very different, since your stomach is really ‘intelligent’ and has a complex regulatory system that allows it to secrete hydrochloric acid in a dynamic way. In this way, if food enters or the pH becomes more alkaline, the digestive system detects it and automatically compensates, secreting more acid through a quite complex hormonal pathway that involves several cells in the walls of our stomach. The real impact. In this way, drinking a little water, like a glass, while eating barely raises the gastric pH (makes it more basic) for about 3 minutes, as science has pointed out. After this time, the stomach resumes its normal acidity and does not affect overall digestion. Something to keep in mind in this case is that both liquids and solids do not compete in the same way in the stomach, since water passes quickly through it, while solid foods can spend hours ‘kneading’ in the gastric juices to decompose into all their most basic elements. This way, the prestigious Mayo clinic points out that water during or after meals does not cause digestion problems or dilute digestive fluids in a problematic way, but rather facilitates them. It has benefits. Far from being the enemy of good digestion, water plays a role a fundamental role in which this is carried out efficiently. One of these effects is precisely the role that water has when it comes to acting together with acids and enzymes to soften food and facilitate the creation of chyme, which is the mass into which food is converted in the stomach. In addition, it helps dissolve certain parts of food so that the nutrient is more accessible upon arrival in the intestine and is vital for hydrating the soluble and insoluble fiber that we ingest. In this way, avoiding water with meals can lead to temporary dehydration of the bolus, worsening intestinal transit. There are exceptions. As always, the rule is not universal, but there are people who may be advised not to drink water while eating. one of these exceptions It is in people who have esophagogastric reflux or GERD, where the specialist can recommend less water consumption with meals to avoid the increase in pressure in the stomach that could trigger this reflux. Images | Olena engin akyurt In Xataka | Fibermaxxing sounds like just another internet hype. But it’s just what doctors recommend.

Two Tajo reservoirs have more water than the 12 Segura reservoirs combined. And that is why Murcia is going to beat Castilla-La Mancha again

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And not a little more water, no. Much more. Because, let’s be honest, since 1979, when the transfer was opened, the Entrepeñas and Buendía reservoirs so much accumulated water has never been seen there: we are talking about reserves of 1,649 hm3. On the other hand, a little further to the southeast, the entire Segura basin has 52 hm3. That is, an almost exact third. These are just a couple of pieces of information, but they are enough to explain why, although the Community Board of Castilla La Mancha sue the Central Government180 hm3 of water from the Tagus will end up in the Segura before the end of the quarter. On autopilot. On March 13, 2026, the Central Transfer Exploitation Commission approved that shipment. The current regulations do not give much room for maneuver: the headwaters of the Tagus entered Level 1 months ago and that, with the current rules, means activating the transfer of water resources. The problem is that the rules have been out of date for years and, in fact, the proposed modification (more favorable to the interests of the Tagus) has been stalled in the Supreme Court for months. And it is still curious that rules designed for a scenario with little water generate problems, precisely, when there is more water. What does Castilla – La Mancha complain about? The most obvious thing is that the Government is manifestly failing to comply with the Royal Hydrographic Planning Decree: According to the text, the new regulations were to be in force in February 2024. That is, we are two years late. And this delay is not innocuous: the Board maintains that the current rules do not ensure the environmental protection of the Tagus or all the associated Natura 2000 network spaces. At the end of the day, they point out from Toledo, what the Exploitation Commission has approved “it wastes 11% of the impounded water” at the head of the river. And what happens in Murcia? We already said months ago that Murcia (and the southeast in general) They had already assumed that depending on transfers It was something very committed. It is true that the expansion of some desalination plants has been approved and is working in construction from others, but the tenders are very slow. This time gap is not only a problem for irrigators, it is a ticking bomb for the different administrations involved. After all, the elections are just around the corner. What can we expect? This is the simplest part of the matter: as long as the Supreme Court does not get its act together or the Ministry decides to take action on the matter, the transfers will continue to occur automatically “as if nothing had happened.” That is to say, the irrigators of the Segura are going to win (again and again) over the riverside municipalities of the Tagus. It doesn’t matter how much politicians stage things. The conflict between regions is in the very core of the country: in the water that runs through its ‘veins’. Image | untypographic In Xataka | The Tagus reservoirs have reached their maximum level. The response of the authorities has been to empty them immediately

50 years ago, an inventor introduced the first water engine. He was Spanish, a visionary and a complete fraud

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“Of my patent, the license for Spain is transferred free of charge to the State for the benefit of all Spaniards.” Loud and clear, this is what Arturo Estévez Varela, the inventor of the water engine and, without a doubt, a great Spaniard. At least that’s what they must have thought. NODE viewerswhich in the early years of the 1970s included the words of this man from Extremadura. “That died with my father and we haven’t bothered to move it either,” said Arturo Estévez Jr. in a report for RTVE in 2009. Perhaps due to lack of knowledge or, probably, due to having too much knowledge. Knowledge that the invention, in reality, was completely unrealizable and that the patents shown to the journalist from the public entity have no value. But who was that man in a suit who drank from a jug before filling the tank of a motorcycle with water and made it work? Behind the name of Arturo Estévez Varela there was an inventor, an enormous visionary and, why not say it, also a scammer. Before his water engine, this Extremadura native born in Valle de la Serena (a small town of just over 1,000 inhabitants in the province of Badajoz) had already devised a chicken roaster with infrared and the “wing plane”, a device that allowed rockets to be recovered. Space X in Franco’s Spain. Arturo Estévez Varela in a demonstration of his invention With four liters of water, 900 kilometers of autonomy But if Arturo, who perhaps at this point we should start calling Don Arturo, became famous for something, it was for his water engine. An invention that, according to what he said, allowed you to travel by car 900 kilometers with just four liters of water. Statements included in the press of the time. It was October 1970 and, evidently, it seemed like magic. How did good old Don Arturo get a motorcycle he was taking around Spain running? Yes, with water, but also with hydrogen. Water was only one of the pillars of his invention. The third was hydrogen. And the second, a mystery. Town to town and city to city, Don Arturo traveled throughout Spain, generating a stir as he went, capturing the attention of the press and, as we have seen, also of the NODO. What this Extremaduran inventor did not reveal was what was hidden in that substance that, together with water, allowed the combustion engine of his motorcycle to work. In theory, the water reacted with a mineral that Arturo did not want to reveal. This reaction produced hydrogen which, when burned in the combustion engine, made the motorcycle work. That is, the procedure was similar to that have tried in Toyota. It is not a motor fuel cellis a combustion engine that burns hydrogen, a much more inefficient process. If we consult different sources on the Internet, many agree that the Francoism came to order a technical report to check if what that unknown inventor said was true. Obviously, everything was left in water, yes, but borage. missing These same sources end their story at the same point. Don Arturo was tireless in making himself heard, in convincing people and strangers that his invention worked and that it was the solution to many of Spain’s problems. However, it disappears. Nothing else was heard of him and the fables begin. Since the Franco regime tried to hide the invention until the oil companies decided to silence it. It seems that the secret, however, was not so secret. In this blog They recover a large part of press clippings from the time. Shortly after making himself known and without being listened to by the Government, Don Arturo managed to get someone to trust him. That someone was José Carrera Rey, a businessman who bought half of the rights to the invention at a price of six million pesetas. It is at that moment that Don Arturo loses track of him. José Carrera Rey then discovers that he has in his hands an invention that is useless. What it doesn’t have are six million pesetas and he doesn’t have a partner either. In desperation he denounces Don Arturo but nothing is heard from Don Arturo again. Only an indictment, in 1974, for an alleged crime of fraud, managed to get Don Arturo to appear in court. However, in December 1977 the magistrates were clear: Justice matters were already going very slowly in Spain and Don Arturo had not committed any crime of fraud because he believed in his invention, so there was no type of deception. Due to the dates on which the Spanish Television report was recorded and what his son says, Don Arturo died on the border of the 80s and 90s and took his secret to the grave. A secret which, according to the scientists who have studied the case, was boron. He boron It is a chemical element that, in reaction with water, produces hydrogen that, even, can become inflamed due to the enormous heat released. Hence, Don Arturo always warned that his “secret mineral” and water had to be mixed in controlled quantities. As collected The Vanguard last summer, the water engine, therefore, is perfectly functionalbut very little useful. To obtain 5 kg of hydrogen, with which a fuel cell Toyota Mirai (more efficient than burning hydrogen) travels about 600 kilometers, 45 liters of water and 19 kg of boron are needed. The problem is, basically, the 68,000 euros that 19 kg of boron would cost, according to what was reported in the Catalan newspaper. Was it functional? Of course, but, at its side, the first liter of synthetic and emissions-neutral fuel at 2,800 euros It no longer seems so expensive to us. Image | Commons In Xataka | The 194 kilometers that changed the history of the automobile have a first and last name: Bertha Benz In Xataka | The history of the first traffic light in Spain, installed in 1926: six lights … Read more

renew Osaka water pipes

by

Osaka usually appears in rankings as one of the most powerful cities in Japan outside of Tokyo. Without going any further, the “power cities” ranking of 2025 once again placed it in the lead among the country’s large cities excluding Tokyo. However, beneath this modern profile lies a much less visible problem: an aging pipeline network that requires million-dollar investments and constant planning. In recent years, the state of these infrastructures has been gaining weight in the public debate, and the country’s third largest city is no exception. The donation. In November of last year, in the midst of a technical discussion on how to face this renovation, an unexpected gesture came to the municipal body in charge of water. An individual delivered 21 kilos of gold bars with one condition: that it be used entirely to improve deteriorated pipelines. The Mainichi newspaper notes that Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama explained at a press conference that the complex is valued at 560 million yen, around 3 million euros. “Repairing old water pipes requires a large investment. For that reason, I only have gratitude,” he said when thanking the donation, and confirmed that the City Council will respect that wish. We know (almost) nothing about the donor. Beyond the value of the gold and its destination, the identity of the person who made the donation remains unknown. The mayor explained that the person asked to remain anonymous and no information has been provided about his profile or origin. It has been made public that this is not an isolated gesture: previously he had already contributed 500,000 yen (about 2,700 euros) in cash for the water system. The actual invoice. When the official figures are analyzed, the scope of the donation takes on another dimension. As he explained to the Associated Press Eiji Kotani, head of the municipal water service, Osaka needs to renew a total of 259 kilometers of pipes. Replacing a section of just 2 kilometers represents an approximate cost of 500 million yen (about 2.7 million euros), an amount close to the full value of the ingots. In addition, it has been announced that leaks under the roads have increased in recent times. The problem is not limited to Osaka. Much of Japan’s public infrastructure was built during the rapid economic growth of the 1960s and 1970s, and today many of those networks are undergoing major renovations. BBC notes that More than 20% of the country’s water pipes have exceeded 40 years, which is the legal useful life. a real problem. That debate stopped being abstract at the end of January 2025, when a huge sinkhole opened on a road in Yashioin Saitama prefecture. The collapse engulfed a truck and triggered a complex rescue operation as teams tried to access the cabin where the 74-year-old driver was. Sewer system officials said corrosion of a pipe could have created a cavity under the asphalt and caused it to collapse. As we can see, the donation can help boost the renovation of the pipes, but it is far from solving the entire problem. Images | Jingming Pan | Juliana Barquero In Xataka | The Aztecs and Ulysses had something in common that humanity has always sought: the true secret of happiness.

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